Ilja & Yassine

Sensing Rooftops is a film, installation and contemporary dance performance at once. It is based on footage recorded on rooftops in the north of Morocco and in the Netherlands. Different architectural, cultural and aesthetic roofscapes come together in a collage-like way. The dancer’s playful explorative movements meet the film maker’s experimental angles and camera movements. Recorded and live danced elements are tied together by the duo’s inner reflections and dialogues as they move back and forth between the two countries. You may also catch some glimpses of Moroccan and Dutch rooftop memories, both typical and surprising.

The project started when dancer Ilja moved to Morocco – not knowing that she would end up staying for almost two years. She developed a habit of training on her rooftop. The neighbourhood’s curious eyes sparked many questions in her that she didn’t know what to do with. When she met filmmaker Yassine and asked her to record one of her trainings, everything soon fell into place. This first footage was so surprising and exciting that it led to an elaborate collaboration, resulting in a shortfilm and interactive performance that toured through five Moroccan cities and is now on its way to the Netherlands.